GAP protection covers the scenario where a motor vehicle is totaled in an accident or stolen and not recovered. Insurance will pay for the retail value of the car minus the deductible. If that is not enough to pay the car loan, the consumer is responsible for the...
Month: February 2014
Games Dealers Play: Inflating the Down Payment
When we evaluate a potential client's contract documents, we always check to see whether the contract accurately shows the amount paid as a down payment. A few weeks ago, we discussed the problem of some car dealerships not crediting the full down payment to a vehicle...
Games Dealers Play: Refusing to Refund the Deposit
. Some car dealerships can be quite aggressive when it comes to asking for a deposit on a car, and consumers are often persuaded to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars as a deposit. Some salesmen will say that the deposit is necessary to “hold” the car, claiming...
Don’t be afraid to fight against auto fraud
If you believe that you have become a victim of auto fraud, it's likely that you have had some unpleasant interactions with your dealer. You'll likely be left with a bitter taste in your mouth and feeling that you have been short-changed in some way, but you may be a...
How to recognize vehicle warranty scams
Auto repairs are more than just an inconvenience -- they can be prohibitively expensive. For this reason, some people in Hartford feel the safe thing to do is to purchase a manufacturer’s warranty from their auto dealer. It is important to understand the difference...
Reminders for used car purchases in Connecticut
Many people consider buying used cars because they are often more affordable than brand-new cars. A used car purchase is a still a large transaction, however, and there is important information available for consumers in Connecticut to keep in mind. Connecticut law...
What are the different types of auto dealer fraud?
Buying a car can be a challenging and exciting process. To ensure they are not taken advantage of, consumers should be familiar with the different types of auto dealer fraud and the protections against auto dealer fraud. Types of auto dealer fraud There are several...
What are the possible outcomes if I have a “Lemon law” hearing?
We expect the new or used cars we buy are in good working condition, especially if they are relatively new or have a low mileage. Under Connecticut’s “Lemon Law” if you were sold a defective vehicle that is either at or under two years old or has a mileage at or under...
What can you do if you suspect auto dealer fraud?
Is your recently purchased used car already causing problems? It may have faulty components that were not disclosed at the time of purchase, the auto dealer may have failed to disclose it was involved in a prior accident or the dealer could even have been tampered...
Don’t get burned by these three common types of auto fraud
Studies show that around 1 in 10 property/casualty insurance claims are fraudulent. In fact, insurance fraud is close behind tax evasion amongst some of the most pervasive white-collar crimes. This means that the likelihood of experiencing the outcome of such fraud is...
What should I know about arbitration for a Lemon Law case?
When a Connecticut resident purchases a new vehicle and it fails to live up to its expectations, it is more than a personal disappointment. It could be a financial morass in which more and more money was poured into the vehicle in addition to making the payments for...
Connecticut pre-owned vehicle warranty protections
Consumers who buy a preowned car should not purchase someone else’s problems. They should know about Connecticut’s law that helps protect them from vehicle warranty problems. Coverage Under state law, warranties are required for a used car purchased from a dealer...
Spotting odometer tampering in a used car
Until the advent of digital odometers, tampering with the analog odometers was perhaps the most common type of fraud involved in used car sales in Connecticut and elsewhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration once estimated that more than 450,000 used...